Frequently Asked Questions

Step 1 - Download, print and complete the Notice of Intended Marriage. Sign this document in the presence of an authorised witness. The form gathers your personal details and is the first piece of legal documentation required for the marriage process.

Step 2 - Book and pay for your marriage date with us. At the time of booking, you will need to upload a scanned copy of your Notice of Intended Marriage. Dates can only be booked one month in advance to meet legal notice period requirements.

Step 3 - While you’re booking, you will also need to upload photos or scanned copies of your passports, birth certificates and drivers licences.

If you’ve been married before you will also need to upload photos or scans of your divorce certificate/order/decree or death certificate. You’ll upload all of the above documents at the time of booking. Pharmacists can not witness this form.

Step 4 - Once booked, our marriage celebrant will reach out to explain the process and the legal requirements.

Step 5 - Your marriage celebrant will meet you at our Adelaide based office in Glenelg to perform the marriage registration.

Step 6 - Once all paperwork has been completed, your marriage celebrant will lodge the paperwork with the South Australian Birth, Deaths & Marriages office.

Step 7 - Give it a few days and your marriage will be registered!

Step 8 - We will let you know when you can order your Official Marriage Certificate. This will cost roughly $70 delivered and is not included in our fees.

SA Marriage Office is privately operated and not affiliated with the government. The only time we cross paths with the BDM registry office is to send them your paperwork!

To get married in Australia, you must:

• Not already be married in any country

• Not be marrying a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister

• Be at least 18 years old, unless a court has approved a marriage where 1 person is 16-18 years old

• Understand what marriage means and freely agree to marry

• Use specific words during the ceremony

• Give a Notice of Intended Marriage form to us least 1 month before your marriage

• Be married by an authorised marriage celebrant

You can download the form here.

In Australia, the Notice of Intended Marriage must be signed in the presence of an authorised witness. People who are authorised to witness the Notice are:

• an authorised celebrant

• a justice of the peace

• a barrister or solicitor

• a medical practitioner, or

• a member of the Australian Federal Police or the police force of a State or Territory

The NOIM can not be witnessed by a Pharmacist, Nurse, Accountant, Dentist, Australia Post Clerk or anyone not listed above.

In some cases, the Notice of Intended Marriage can be submitted to us signed by only one of you.

If you or your partner are not currently in Australia, you must sign the Notice of Intended Marriage in the presence of one of the following:

• an Australian Diplomatic Officer

• an Australian Consular Officer

• a notary public

• an employee of the Commonwealth authorised under paragraph 3(c) of the Consular Fees Act 1955, or

• an employee of the Australian Trade Commission authorised under paragraph 3(d) of the Consular Fees Act 1955

In some cases, the Notice of Intended Marriage can be submitted to us signed by only one of you.

Paragraph 42(1)(a) of the Marriage Act stipulates that the Notice of Intended Marriage must be given to the celebrant no earlier than 18 months and no later than one month before the date of the marriage.

In some exceptional circumstances, a prescribed authority may authorise a marriage to be solemnised despite the celebrant receiving the Notice of Intended Marriage within one month of the date of the marriage.

These circumstances are limited to:

• employment-related or other travel commitments

• wedding or celebration arrangements, or religious considerations

• medical reasons

• legal proceedings, or

• an error in giving notice

Contact us to discuss your options.

Before the marriage, you’ll need to provide a signed and witnessed Notice of Intended Marriage, and evidence of the date and place of your birth, as well as proof of your identity. A passport is all you will need, but if you don’t have a passport we will need to see your birth certificate and drivers licence, proof of age card or citizenship certificate.

On the day, you’ll need to bring two witnesses aged over 18 years old who speak and understand English.

If you or your witnesses do not speak English, you will need to arrange an interpreter. The Interpreter must provide us with a Statutory Declaration prior to the wedding detailing their fluency in the relevant language.

After the ceremony the interpreter must provide a Certificate of Faithful performance of their services.

The easiest option is to provide your passports.

If you don't have a passport we will need to see your birth certificate with drivers licence, proof of age or another government issued form of ID.

Yes, you can use identification even if it is not written in English, however, your must have this document translated to English. It is recommended to use a National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) registered translator.

If you or your witnesses do not speak English, you will need to arrange an interpreter. The Interpreter must provide us with a Statutory Declaration prior to the wedding detailing their fluency in the relevant language.

After the ceremony the interpreter must provide a Certificate of Faithful performance of their services.

No, generally you will not meet your celebrant prior to the marriage.

You can access the government produced Happily Ever Before & After brochure here. Under the Marriage Act, our team must provide you with this after receiving your Notice of Intended Marriage.

We do not offer relationship counselling services. However, should you need guidance with where to go to for help, check out our resource guide.